“To dance is human, to polka is divine” K.D. Lang, Canadian Singer-Songwriter
If you think that the polka is originally a Polish dance, then you are way off! This popular dance is one of the cultural treasures of another small middle European country. If you would like to know more about the origins of this Czech dance, then browse our sheet music & scores, and explore all the marvellous Polkas Stretta has to offer!
It is no longer known exactly where and when the polka came to be, but from the early 19th century the predecessor of the polka, the “Nimra”, was becoming very popular. The next development was the “Maděra”, which was then renamed to the “Půlka”, which was later renamed the Polka.
The polka was already well known around Europe, and by the 1840s, and it had become one of the favourite dances in the courts of Vienna. Johann Strauss I was also fascinated by the polka in Prague, and subsequently composed several polkas himself. The polka was also very popular with the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, who composed polkas for piano, and also used them in his symphonic and operatic works including Vltava and The Bartered Bride.
Like many other folk dances, the polka found its way into the ballets of the 19th century, in the form of the “Polka Hongroise” or “French Polka”, particularly in works by Léo Delibes. In Vienna the “Polka Schnell” or “Quick Polka” was also popular for a long time, often penned by Johann Strauss II.
One of the most famous polka melodies, which has travelled the world in many different versions, is Jaromír Vejvoda’s “Škoda lásky” known also as “Rosamunde” or “The Beer Barrel Polka”.
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682974
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682799
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682708
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682698
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682640
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682511
for: Small wind band
Conductors part
Item no.: 1681333
for: Trumpet (B-flat) [tenor saxophone], piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1658637
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1639396
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1562470
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299114
for: Trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1296427
for: Violin, cello
Music score
Item no.: 1204655
for: Percussion, piano
Buch
Item no.: 1073111
for: Blaskapelle
Score
Item no.: 957852
for: Blaskapelle
Score
Item no.: 957841
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 900164
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 891288
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 886830
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 872647
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690597
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 689483
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688690
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 602115
SwingPolka (Verlagskopie) (Editor's copy)
for: 2 accordions (duet)
Item no.: 407449
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 132169
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 102574
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298011
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1288458
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 673315
for: 2 accordions (duet)
Item no.: 217493
for: Accordion
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 245873
for: 2 trumpets
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1652623
for: 3 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1652002
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677773
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677772
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677774
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677775
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677776
for: String orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 218200
for: String orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 218202
Single part Tuba 2 (C)
Item no.: 549262
for: Accordion
Single part(n)
Item no.: 395967
for: String orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 218199
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Trombone 1 in C (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226503
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Tuba 1 in C (orchestral part)
Item no.: 217557
for: String orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 179370
for: Accordion
Single part(n)
Item no.: 373197
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